Among the country people there had been absolutely little submission of mind to the power over them as a _de jure_ government, and the spirit of patriotic adventure was strong. In more than a few instances it incited them to toilsome and hazardous ridings over the mountains into Kentucky, and back again with news concerning the war which could not otherwise be had, except as it might be stintedly published from Richmond after being distilled in Confederate alembics. The presumption is, that as opportunity served, not only was general news carried by these messengers, but also valuable information relative to military situations and movements. Among Union women there were heroines in action, equal to their grandmothers in the first settlement of the land when the Indians were a terror.[28] In April, 1862, tidings brought to East Tennessee of the battle of Corinth, like those elsewhere circulated at first in the South, were exaggerated. “The slaughter of the Yankees,” as reported, “was enormous,” and the number of Confederates killed and wounded was very small. Great rejoicings followed over the victory said to have been won by Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, but these soon abated, for what reason Union citizens could not tell. They had their suspicions that the actual results differed materially from the extravagant statements that had been boastingly made, but their incredulity did not rest upon knowledge of any facts. Former experience had taught them not to give credence to such statements, but to discount them largely on the score of military policy in time of war, and even more on account of the intense party bias which prevailed in Confederate circles. After the evacuation of Corinth by Gen. Beauregard, the demonstrations of the Federal forces towards East Tennessee, which had begun before, became more threatening. They compelled the Confederate troops at Bridgeport to retire, made indecisive attacks upon them at Chattanooga and Cumberland Gap, and harassed them in East Tennessee into frequent and forced marches. Finally General Kirby Smith evacuated Cumberland Gap under military necessity, and the Federal army under Gen. G. W. Morgan occupied his fortifications.